The festive season is slowly picking up speed and many people are preparing for a joyful time with families and friends. The South African Police members in the province are making sure that this festive season is a peaceful one.
Proactive intervention strategies have been employed in different parts of the province in making sure that the all the criminal endeavors are thwarted and removed from the community. This was evident during an operation conducted at Umsinga area on 30 November 2017 where two suspects aged between 48 and 60 were arrested for unlawful possession of unlicensed firearms.
The members from UMnzinyathi Cluster Crime Intelligence together with Pietermaritzburg Public Order Policing conducted an intelligence driven operation at Maqeleni Reserve in Msinga. During the early hours of the morning the dedicated team of members went to their first targeted homestead. Upon arrival the members searched the home and found an unlicensed 9mm pistol with 15 live rounds as well as an R5 magazine.
A 60 year old suspect was arrested and taken into custody for the recovered firearm and ammunition.
The next stop was also in Maqeleni reserve where as soon as the members arrived one suspect fled into the dead of the night. The members continued and searched the homestead and found a 9mm pistol with 14 live rounds, a 308 rifle with six live rounds of ammunition, a 303 rifle with 11 rounds of ammunition, two R5 magazines with 19 live rounds and .22 rifle.
A 48 year old suspect was arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and they will appear at the uMsinga Magistrate Court on 30 November 2017.
The KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa applauded the members for their successful operation that led to the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of the firearms. “We will continue with such operations to ensure that all unlicensed firearms that are in the hands of the criminals are removed,” he said.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
